2014 Holland Series

vs.

2014 Holland Series: DOOR Neptunus (34-7-1) defeated Amsterdam Pirates (32-10), 4 games to 3

Introduction

The 2014 Holland Series was the 28th Holland Series. DOOR Neptunus defended their 2013 Holland Series title against the Amsterdam Pirates.

Teams

Neptunus

Neptunus had the best record in the regular season at 34-7-1, outscoring opponents 274-99. Their top hitters had been veteran Raily Legito (.319/.445/.447), young Stijn van der Meer (.354/.430/.398) and catcher Gianison Boekhoudt (.316/.448/.566, 7 HR, 37 R, tied for the league lead with 42 RBI). Orlando Yntema (8-1, 1.15) led the league in ERA and four other hurlers were under 2: Misja Harcksen (5-0, 1.59), Diegomar Markwell (8-1, 1.97), Will Dismukes (3-1, 1.26) and Berry van Driel (1-1, 6 Sv, 1.82). Former AAA player Kalian Sams joined them for the Series after having played in a Taiwanese minor league to wrap up the summer of 2014. Evert-Jan 't Hoen was their manager.

Amsterdam

The Pirates finished second in the 2014 Hoofdklasse regular season at 32-10, with a better run differential (293 R, 95 RA) than Neptunus. OF Bas de Jong (.373/.444/.590, 42 RBI) led the league in average, slugging, doubles (16) and RBI (tied) while IF Mike Duursma (.326/.474/.394, 37 R) and 1B Kenny Berkenbosch (.313/.430/.524, 7 HR, 39 RBI) also hit very well. Kevin Heijstek (10-3, 1.33) led the circuit in victories and four-time Olympian Rob Cordemans was 8-0 with a 1.53 ERA. Daan Hendrix (2-1, Sv, 1.20) and Kyle Ward (2-1, Sv, 1.38) pitched well in less time. Charles Urbanus Jr. managed the team.

Games

September 27

Game 1 in Familiestadion

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Amsterdam	0	0	2	1	0	0	2	0	0	5	13	0
Neptunus	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Win: Heijstek (1-0) Loss: Markwell (0-1)

The Pirates started off with a strong opening win. They got two men on in the first off Markwell but failed to score. In the second, CF Remco Draijer drew a Markwell walk and stole second. DH Percy Isenia grounded him to third. 2B Jesse Aussems tried to pull off a squeeze bunt but it was fielded by C Boekhoudt, who tagged out Draijer at the plate. Amsterdam did get on the board in the third. LF Roelie Henrique singled and SS Duursma doubled, then RF de Jong grounded in Henrique. 1B Kenny Berkenbosch doubled home Duursma for a 2-0 lead and C Bas Nooij singled but Draijer hit into a 1-4-3 double play.

In the 4th, the Pirates scored again on singles by Isenia, Aussems and 3B Rashid Gerard followed by a run-scoring double play ball from Henrique. Neptunus had a chance in the bottom of the sixth. 1B Shurman Marlin singled off Heijstek, who had been cruising to that point, and DH Adrian Anthony had a one-out single. After 2B Benjamin Dille flew out, 3B Legito walked, bringing up cleanup man Boekhoudt. Heijstek got his Dutch national teammate looking at strike three to escape the jam.

Amsterdam padded their lead in the 7th. With one out, Henrique single and stole second. Duursma singled in Henrique and took second on the throw home. Kevin Kelly relieved Markwell, who had allowed 11 hits in 6 1/3 IP. Duursma stole third then came home on a two-out double by Berkenbosch, one of his three hits. The Pirates had another shot in the 8th; with one out, Isenia walked, Aussems singled and a passed ball advanced them, but Gerard grounded to SS Dwayne Kemp, who fired home to get Isenia, Amsterdam's second out at home.

Heijstek left after 8 1/3 shutout innings (5 H, 1 BB, 4 K), relieved by Ward. He retired Boekhoudt and Jurrian Koks was summoned to try to wrap it up. LF Sams singled but Kemp flew out to Draijer to end the game.

September 28

Game 2 in Familiestadion

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Amsterdam	0	4	0	2	5	0	3	0	3	17	18	1
Neptunus	0	0	0	1	5	1	0	0	0	7	12	2
Win: Koks (1-0) Loss: Yntema (0-1)

With ERA champ Yntema (1.15) on the hill for Neptunus and Amsterdam countering with Cordemans (1.53), one of the greatest pitchers in Hoofdklasse history, a pitching duel would have been expected. Amsterdam pounded Yntema for 9 runs in four innings. In the 4th, four players were ejected in a bench-clearing brawl following an exchange of words; Markwell, Sams and manager Evert-Jan 't Hoen were ejected for Neptunus and Chris Mowday of Amsterdam.

While Yntema struggled, Cordemans did his job pretty well but was taken out after four innings (6 H, 0 BB, 1 UER, 5 K). His reliever Jos de Jong did not fare as well, with five runs in 2/3 of an inning capped by a grand slam by SS Kemp. Koks succeeded de Jong and settled things back down, allowing only one run in the final 4 1/3 IP. On the other hand, several Neptunus relievers mostly fanned the flames (Kelly - 2 R in 1/3 IP, van Driel 3 R in 2 IP and Floris Timmer 3 R in 1 IP; only Jorian van Acker did well with 0 R in 1 2/3 IP).

For Amsterdam, LF Henrique had 4 hits, 3B Gerard 5 RBI, 1B Berkenbosch 3 hits and they had 3 runs apiece from C Nooij, CF Draijer and 2B Aussems. For Neptunus, 2B Dille and SS Kemp each had three hits.

It marked the biggest win ever by Amsterdam over Neptunus in terms of runs scored (topping 16 runs on June 4, 1990). It also was the second-most runs for a Holland Series game, behind 20 from HCAW in game 2 of 1996. It also broke a 1996 Holland Series record, for longest 9-inning game (Game 1 then had been 3 hours, 25 minutes - this game was 3 hours, 52 minutes).

October 2

Game 3 in Sportpark Ookmeer

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Neptunus	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	10	0
Amsterdam	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	7	1
Win: Markwell (1-1) Loss: Heijstek (1-1)

Neptunus needed some good pitching after the game two blowout and Markwell provided, fanning 12 and walking none; he gave up only four hits entering the 9th. Meanwhile, Heijstek was not nearly as sharp as in the opener. DH Anthony, 2B Dille, 3B Legito and C Boekhoudt rapped four straight singles to open the game and put the visitors up 2-0. In the second, Heijstek hit RF Daniel Fernandes with one out, then 1B Marlin walked and Anthony had a two-out RBI single. Anthony would finish with three hits. After six hits in the first two frames, Neptunus was held to four the rest of the way, but their lead was secure. In the bottom of the 9th, Markwell began tiring (he would finish with 144 pitches thrown). SS Duursma singled and with one out 1B Berkenbosch hit into a force. C Nooij doubled and CF Draijer ended the shutout with his third hit, scoring Berkenbosch. DH Isenia struck out to end the game for his 4th K. Markwell pitched the 4th complete game of his Holland Series career, tying Cordemans' record.

October 4

Game 4 in Sportpark Ookmeer

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Neptunus	2	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	12	0
Amsterdam	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	5	13	0
Win: Mowday (1-0) Loss: Kelly (0-1)

For the first time this Series, the home team won a game. They fell behind early, as DH Anthony and 2B Dille opened with singles off Cordemans. With two outs, LF Sams hit a pop fly into left, but Amsterdam LF Henrique collided with SS Duursma, knocking the ball loose from Duursma's glove to let two runs in. Henrique made up for it a bit in the bottom of the first, singling, stealing and coming home on a hit by 1B Berkenbosch off Yntema.

The Pirates had a chance to pull ahead or tie it in the second, loading the bases with one out on hits by DH Isenia and 2B Aussems and 3B Gerard being plunked, but Henrique flew out and Duursma grounded out. Neptunus added insurance in the third on a single by Dille and a RBI double by C Boekhoudt. They made it 4-1 in the 7th; Cordemans walked Anthony and Dille bunted him over. Ward relieved Cordemans and 3B Legito singled off him to score Anthony with his second run. Ward picked off Legito, which helped save a run as Boekhoudt walked and Hendrix walked Sams. SS Kemp then flew out.

In the 8th, Neptunus blew a chance for insurance. RF Fernandes singled, but 1B Marlin hit into a twin killing. CF Shaldimar Daantji singled, Anthony walked and Dille was hit by Hendrix, but Legito fouled out. Yntema, after blowing game 2, was cruising, with one run in 7 IP (7 H, 3 BB). Van Acker relieved to open the 8th and that's when Amsterdam started their comeback. Berkenbosch singled, C Nooij walked and CF Draijer singled to close it to 4-2. Isenia hit a fly to left and Sams made a diving catch to prevent a big blow. Draijer stole second, then Aussems grounded to 1B Marlin. Marlin threw to Dille, who went to cover first, but he missed the bag. Dille tried to apply the tag to Aussems but 1B umpire Roy van de Wateringen called Aussems safe. 't Hoen came out to argue the call and was ejected for a disputed call the second time this Series. Kelly relieved van Acker and fanned Gerard, walked Henrique but retired Duursma to maintain the lead at 4-3.

In the top of the 9th, Hendrix walked Boekhoudt (the 3rd Hendrix walk in 1 2/3 IP and 7th walk drawn by Neptunus). Sams popped out, then Kemp and Fernandes singled to load the bags. Mowday relieved Hendrix and the tall Australian got Marlin to hit into a 4-3 twin killing to keep it a one-run game. In the bottom of the 9th, RF Bas de Jong was retired on another close play at 1B. Berkenbosch (2 for 4 to that point) drew a walk and Björn Hato pinch-ran for him. Nooij flew out to put Neptunus an out from tying the Series. Draijer singled for his 3rd hit. Isenia singled to center to score Hato with the tying run. #8 hitter Aussems then drove a single to left while Draijer raced towards home; Sams' throw was not close and Aussems had his third hit, a game-winner.

October 5

Game 5 in Sportpark Ookmeer

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Neptunus	0	1	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	4	8	0
Amsterdam	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	0
Win: van Driel (1-0) Loss: J. de Jong (0-1) Save: Kelly (1)

With their backs to the wall, Neptunus made a surprising call, turning to reliever Berry van Driel, who had pitched 168 consecutive relief outings in his Neptunus career until a playoff start in August. He had only started three regular season games in 13 years. Neptunus got on the board early. C Boekhoudt doubled to open the second, took third on a grounder by LF Sams and scored on a fly by SS Kemp.

Amsterdam tied it in the bottom of the third, with more big plays from Aussems. The second baseman singled, was bunted over by 3B Gerard and scored on a two-hit out by SS Duursma. Another umpiring controversy ensued in the 4th. With two outs, CF Draijer grounded to short and legged it out, as Kemp's throw went past 1B Marlin. Draijer took second on the throw. Boekhoudt and 't Hoen proceeded to protest, saying there had been a time-out call and home plate umpire Stenar van Groningen Schinkel was wiping the plate as Draijer reached second. The umpires convened and assigned Draijer to 1B. Urbanus promptly argued that call, but his protest made no difference. Draijer was then caught stealing.

With one out in the top of the 5th, Kemp bunted his way aboard and stole second. RF Fernandes singled to left; Henrique threw home to C Nooij, but Jemp slid in just ahead of the tag. Marlin then crushed a pitch from Jos de Jong to right for a two-run shot and a 4-1 lead. Marlin had never homered in the Hoofdklasse before.

In the bottom of the 8th, Amsterdam started to rally with two outs. Henrique drew a walk from van Driel, who had now thrown 128 pitches. Van Driel's next pitch hit Duursma in the helmet and he was yanked at that point in favor of Kellij, having turned in a sharp outing. That brought up RF Bas de Jong, the regular season batting champ, but he struck out to end the rally. In the bottom of the 9th, Kellij retired Berkenbosch on a grounder, Nooij on a fly and Draijer on a strikeout to end it.

October 11

Game 6 in Familiestadion

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Amsterdam	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	6	3
Neptunus	0	0	1	3	0	0	1	3	-	8	10	1
Win: Yntema (1-1) Loss: Heijstek (1-2) Save: Kelly (2)

Neptunus still was in a must-win situation but now had a friendly home crowd behind them. Amsterdam got ahead in the third. 3B Gerard singled and was bunted over. SS Duursma got plunked by Yntema, then RF Bas de Jong doubled in Gerard and an error on the play scored Duursma as well. In the bottom of the third, DH Anthony drew a two-out walk from Heijstek and 2B Dille singled. 3B Legito singled to left to cut it to 2-1.

In the bottom of the 4th, LF Sams reached on an error by Duursma, then SS Kemp singled. RF Fernandes bunted the runners over then 1B Marlin delivered a big two-run double for a 3-2 lead. After an out, Anthony doubled in Marlin. In the 7th, Amsterdam rallied. DH Isenia singled, then 2B Aussems hit into a force and Gerard grounded Aussems over. LF Henrique singled in Aussems to close it to 4-3, but Henrique was thrown out stealing.

Neptunus got some insurance in the bottom of the 7th. With two outs, Legito doubled off Heijstek.; Ward relieved but gave up a RBI double to C Boekhoudt. Koks replaced Ward and fanned Sams to end the inning at 5-3. Kelly relieved Yntema in the 8th and fanned Duursma, Bas de Jong and 1B Berkenbosch in order. Neptunus put it out of reach in the bottom of the 8th. With two outs, Marlin hit into Duursma's second error. CF Daantji singled, chasing Koks in favor of Hendrix. Anthony hit into an error by Berkenbosch to load the bases. Dille then smacked a three-run double, but was out trying to stretch it into a triple; Neptunus now had a solid 8-3 lead. In the 9th, Kelly again went 1-2-3, getting C Nooij, CF Draijer and Isenia in order to wrap it up.

October 12

Game 7 in Familiestadion

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Amsterdam	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1
Neptunus	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	-	1	8	1
Win: van Driel (2-0) Loss: Cordemans (0-1) Save: Kelly (3)

For the first time since 1989, the Holland Series went to a game 7 (it was best-of-5 from 1990 to 2010). For the first time, a team rallied after being down 2 games to 0 to win it all. Furthermore, Neptunus was without manager 't Hoen and pitcher Markwell, due to suspensions laid down for their role in the game 2 brawl.

Neptunus got runners aboard against Cordemans in the first, second (two runners), third and fourth (two more) but two Pirates double plays helped prevent damage. CF Daantji got his second single, in the 5th, but was thrown out stealing. Meanwhile, van Driel was cruising for Neptunus, retiring the first seven batters before 2B Aussems singled, and no one else until the 6th when Henrique had a bunt single and stole second, but Duursma and Bas de Jong were retired to end that threat.

In the bottom of the 6th, 3B Legito singled off his longtime national team teammate Cordemans and C Boekhoudt singled. Nooij committed a passed ball then LF Sams was intentionally walked. SS Kemp grounded to second for a run-scoring force for the game's lone score. Van Driel finally left after 7 2/3 IP, having allowed only two hits and two walks in a scoreless gem. Kelly relieved and got outs from all four batters he faced for a record third Holland Series save. Cordemans finished with his record 5th Holland Series complete game but a tough 1-0 loss; he had won the other 1-0 Holland Series finale back in 1995 when he was only 20 years old. Van Driel was named Series MVP.